Snap switch



A. W. CLAUDER SNAP SWITCH Filed A112. 19 1920 INVENTOR -/7RTHUR W. ail/DER ATTORNEY til.

ARTHUR W. CIiAUDEE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO GE! ELECTRIC COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SNAP SWITCH.

Application filed August 19, 1920. Serial no. 404,629.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that ARTHUR W. CLAUDER, a citizen of the United States,residing at 26 Pacific St., Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snap Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a snap switch of novel construction, comprising few and simple parts which may be readily assembled and which is not liable to get out of order. It provides a construction wherein the o erative members for the most part may e stamped from sheet material and assembled without further manufacturing operations, the parts being held in relative position by a spring which furnishes the impelling force for .closing and opening the clrcuit. The switch by reason of its simple and compact construction is especially a apted for lamp sockets. V

For a more complete understanding of the invention together with other objects and advantageous details and combination of parts reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an end view of the switch applied to a lamp socket, the outer casing being removed,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal or am'al section thereof,

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the switch blade and actuating mechanism,

Figs. 4 and 5 are side elevations of the same parts showin the switch blade in closed and open positions respectively,

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the actuating cam,

Fig. 7 is a'detail of the actuating shaft,

Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views of the supporting frame and spring and the switch blade respectively.

In Figs. 1 and 2 A represents a base block of insulating material such as porcelain or rubber in which the switch elements are carried. At B is shown the usual threaded shell for the reception of the threaded base of a lampor other device. Fastened centrally to the block A and within the shell B is the usual spring center contact finger 1' for engagement with the usual central terminal of the lamp or plug. As shown this contact is made fast to the block A by means'of a screw 2 passing therethrough, and threaded in a nut 3 seated in a depression 4 in the block A. Contact 1 has an extension arm 5 passing through-a wall of the block A and terminating in a curved switch contact 6. The shell B is in electrical connection with a binding post 7 near one edge face of the block by means of a metal yoke 8 which is made fast by the rivets 9 and 10 to the block A and holds the shell B fixed thereto. Op-

posite the contact 6 is placed a similar contact 11 formed as an extension of the bind-- ing post 12. The rear face of the block A is recessed at'13 to contain the moving switch parts which are carried by a sheet metal frame 14. As shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 8, this frame comprises a substantially U shaped portion having spaced sides 15 and16 connected by a narrower portion 17. The portion 15 is provided with a leaf spring extension 18 which is notched at 19 and 20 near its free end. The portion 16 has a central open slot 21 and the portion15 has a. long slot 22 terminating opposite the slot 21 in a portion of narrow width at 23. At 24 is shown a switch-blade having a central rectangular slot 25 and at vone end spaced ears 26 and 27. The slot 25 is of suflicient width to take over the portion 17 of the frame 14, while the ears 26 and 27 are spaced to fit the notches 19 and 20. Member 24 is also of a width to fit snugly between the contacts 6 and 11. At 28 is shown a shaft carrying at 29 the usual switch actuating button. As shown in Fig. 7 the inner end of shaft 28 is circumferentially grooved at 30 and 31, the grooved portions being of proper diameter to find bearing in the slot 21 and the narrow slot portion 23 of frame 14. The wide portion of slot 22 allows the shaft 2 8 to ass therethrough in order to facilitate assem ly of the parts. Between the grooves 30 and 31, shaft 28 has formed thereon as by striking up therefrom a pair of lugs 32 and 33. At 34 1s shown an actuating cam block having a central perfo-I ration to fit the shaft 28, this cam being of a length to fit easily between the spaced sides 15 and 16 of the frame 14. This block has a slot 35 within" which the lugs 32 and 33 may extend and by which itis fixed to rotate with shaft 28. This cam is formed as a double wedge the faces thereof being. at right angles to each other and tapering in opposite direc tions axially of shaft 28.

When assembled as shown in Fig. 3 the cam block is held between the sides and v 16 of the frame and within the slot 25 of the switch blade 24, the end edge of the slot being pressed againstthe cam by means of the sprin extension 18 which thus resiliently holi the shaft 28 withinthe bearing slots 21 and 23. These parts as assembled are then placed within the recess 13 of the block A and held therein by means of the head 36 of a screw. It should be understood that the switch blade 24 is of conductmg material such as brass or the like but the button 29 is of insulating material in the usual manner.

The operation of the device is as follows: The leading in wires are connected to the binding screws 7 and'12, current leading directly from the screw 7 to the shell B in the usual manner. When the switch is closed the switch blade 24 is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 bridging the contacts 11 and 6, by which means the binding screw 12 is in electrical connection with the central spring contact 1 in the usual manner. If now the button 29 be turned in either direction "from the position shown in Fig. 1, one edge of the cam block 34 will impinge on the end of the slot 25 and push the blade 24 longitudinally against the pressure of the spring portion 1- rthus placing the spring under increased tension; At a cerand throwing tain point in the turning the angle of the edge of the block 34 as presented to the edge of the slot changes from the wedged taper in one directionto the wedged taper in the other direction. When the switch is closed the taper is awa from the'butto n 29 as shown. as Fig. 4. 11 giving the button 29 a quarter turn, however, the wedge taper 1s in the opposite direction as shown in Fig. 5. As this mid position is reached the 'tension of the spring 18 urging the blade- 24 against the cam block causes the blade to ride up the inclined wedge face, completing the quarter turn of the shaft 28,

the blade 24 about its engagement with t e-spring 18 as a pivot out of bridging contact with the elements 6 and 11 and--opening the circuit. The wider portlons of the-frame end 15 engage either side of the slot 25 to limit the extent ofmovement of the contact blade in this direction.

'On turning the button 29 another quarter turn a similar action takes place to reverse v the direction of taper-of theblocli 34 which is presented against theend of the slot 25,

which action in a similar manner, snaps the switch blade 24 into bridging contact with From the" above it is seen that this construction provides a simple snap switch switch blade, a spring pressed mechanism most of the parts being bent or formed from sheet materials and in which a spring element serves to hold the moving parts in assembled relation and also to move the switch blade alternately to open and closed position by identically the same motion of the spring.

Having thus described one embodiment of this invention, though it is evident that many changes might be made therein without departing from its spirit or scope what is claimed is:

1. A snap switch comprising a rotary shaft, a double wedge cam rotatable about its axis by said shaft, stationary switch contacts, a Switchblade to cooperate therewith, and yieldable means arranged to longitudinally force said blade a inst said cam transversely thereof whereh; it is caused to move into or out of engagement with said contacts upon each quarter turn of said shaft.

2. A snap switch comprising a rotary shaft, a cam driven thereby and having quadrants thereof sloping in alternate directions to its axis, stationary contacts, a switch blade to cooperate therewith, and yieldable. means arranged to force said blade transversely against the said cam whereby it is caused to move into and out of engagement with said contacts by the rotation of said cam.

3. A snap switch comprising a rotary shaft, adouble wedge cam driven thereby,

stationary contacts, a movably pivoted switch blade to cooperate with said contacts, and spring means to force said'blade against said cam transversely thereof whereby it is caused tooscillate into and out of engagement with said contacts as the cam is rotated to present different wedge faces thereto.

4. A snap switch comprising a rotary shaft, a doublmwedge camdriven thereby, stationary contacts, a switch blade to co operate with said contacts, a-movable fulcrum for said switch blade, and spring means actin through saidfulcrum to force said switch lade against the wedge surfaces of said cam transversely of its axls.

.5. A snap switch comprising a rotary shaft, a double wedge cam driven .thereby, stationary contacts, a switch blade to cooperate with said contacts, a leaf s ring having its free end adapted to pivota y engage said switch blade and force it against the wedge surface ofsaid cam transversely of its axis.

v6. A snap switch comprisin a slotted crum for said blade, and a rotary cam having faces alternately inclined to its axis and transversely engaging the blade within the slot thereof. v

7. A snap switch comprising a frame woaeea member having spaced ortions, a spring actuated fulcrum carrie by one of sai portions, a switch blade having a slot to receive said frame and pivoted on said fulcrum, a shaft journalled in said frame, a cam actuated by said shaft and engaging said blade within the slot thereof, and stationary switch contacts arranged to cooperate with the free end of'sald blade.

8. A sn ap switch comprising a frame member having spaced portions, one of said portions having a spring extension, a switch blade having a vslot to receive said frame and pivoted on the'free end of said spring extension, a shaft journalled in said frame, and a cam fixed to said shaft and engaging within the slot of said blade, said cam being actuable on the turning of said shaft to swing said blade alternately in opposite directions.

9. A snap switch com risin member having spaced en fortions joined by an intermediate reduce portion with shoulders at the ends there0f,-a s ring actuated fulcrum carried by one o sald end portions, a switch blade. having a slot to receive the reduced portion of said frame and ivoted on said fulcrum, a shaft (jiournallefi in said frame, a cam actuate by said shaft and engaging said blade within the slot thereof, and stationary switch contacts arran d to cooperate with the free end of said lade.

In testimony whereof he afixes his signature. a.

' 11? W2 OLAUDER.

a frame 

